CS/CS/HB 405 — Trusts

This summary is provided for information only and does not represent the opinion of any Senator, Senate Officer, or Senate Office.

Prepared by:
Judiciary Committee (JU)

A directing trustee is a cotrustee of a trust who has specific powers to the exclusion of other cotrustees, known as excluded trustees. Under existing law, the excluded trustee may be liable for complying with a directive by the directing trustee, if an excluded trustee has actual knowledge of the willful misconduct of the directing cotrustee. Under the bill, institutions or individuals who serve as an excluded trustee are not liable for complying with a directive by a directing cotrustee unless the excluded trustee’s conduct constitutes willful misconduct.

If approved by the Governor, these provisions take effect July 1, 2014.